And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.
1.
Context
a.
In Leviticus
21:1-15 we see rules specifically for the priests
b.
The priests had
stricter guidelines
1.
Dead bodies
2.
Marry a
widow/divorced woman
c.
Verses 16-24
discusses the physical disqualifications for being a priest
2.
Verses 16-24
a.
16-18a
i.
God tells Moses
to deliver a message to Aaron, who, as High Priest, was responsible for making
sure everyone knew and fulfilled their duties
ii.
Those who have a
physical deformity are not allowed to enter God’s presence
b.
Verses 18b-21
i.
Moses provides an
example of such deformities
c.
Verses 22-24
i.
Moses clarifies
exactly what he means
ii.
They could still
live normally and eat that which was for the priests, but they were not to
function as priests by entering into the Holy Place or the Most Holy Place—the
presence of God
iii. God's presence sanctified the sanctuaries (Vs 23)
3.
Practical
Application
a.
The Holiness of
God
i.
Having a physical
deformity was not sinful or morally inferior, but only perfection could enter
into God’s presence (all animals offered to God had to be blemish free as well)
ii.
Habbakuk 1:13:
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…”
iii.
Isaiah 59:2: “But
your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid
his face from you, that he will not hear.”
iv.
God and sin
cannot coexist
v. Just as God's presence sanctified the inner parts of the Tabernacle/Temple, so too the Holy Spirit sanctifies the Church
b.
The grace of God
i.
Verse 22
ii.
Though God was
using these priests with deformities as an example by which to teach His
people, he still provided for their well being
iii.
God cares for all
of His people, even those who have weaknesses
iv.
Those who will
not work should not eat, but those who cannot
work may. The Church ought to care for those who are unable to work
c.
The purity of our
High Priest, Jesus
i.
Only a perfect
priest could enter God’s presence, and that’s exactly what Jesus was
ii.
Jesus was the
spotless priest and the spotless Lamb
iii.
Hebrews 4:15:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who in every respect was tempted as we are, yet without
sin.”
iv.
This is the
glorious privilege of living in the New Covenant—because we have a perfect High
Priest, one who offered a perfect sacrifice once for all, we are able to draw
into God’s presence, despite our blemishes
v.
We are all
priests who may enter into God’s presence through the intercession of Christ (1
Peter 2:9—royal priesthood)
vi.
Hebrews 4:16:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
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